Game of Thrones Showrunners Reveal Ser Pounce’s Tragic Fate

The showrunners have revealed the fate of Ser Pounce. Unsurprisingly the fan favorite cat did not receive a happy ending. Ser Pounce was first introduced to fans in the season 4 episode “Oathkeeper.” When Margaery Tyrell snuck into the bedroom to flirt with her young betrothed and newly crowned king, Tommen Baratheon, Tommen’s cat Ser Pounce jumped in between them on the bed. This appearance was Ser Pounce’s one and only in the series but it was enough. Fans quickly fell in love with the feline mostly, if not entirely, because of his ridiculous name.

Since this season 4 appearance Ser Pounce hasn’t even been mentioned. Things were left especially uncertain concerning Pounce at the close of season 6. In the finale, Margarey was killed and Tommen committed suicide. While it could’ve been assumed that Ser Pounce survived to jump onto other beds in King’s Landing the truth is much more tragic. Even adorable cats with silly names can’t survive the harsh landscape of Game of Thrones.

Speaking with EW,Game of Thrones showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss revealed that sometime after season 6, Cersei Lannister had her late son’s cat killed. The reason isn’t because Ser Pounce reminded Cersei of her dearly departed son and it was too painful. It’s something much more petty. The very thing that made Ser Pounce so popular, his name, is the same reason that Cersei killed him. Benioff explained:

Cersei hated the name ‘Ser Pounce’ so much she could not allow him to survive. So she came up with her most diabolical [execution]. Ser Pounce’s death was so horrible we couldn’t even put it on the air.

In truth, Benioff’s explanation of Ser Pounce’s fate should be taken a little lightly as it seems to be delivered in a facetious manner. Especially since Weiss followed up the reveal by joking that if fans buy “super-extended, super-charged Game of Thrones box set” they’ll be able to see Ser Pounce’s bloody demise. There’s a series box set of Game of Thrones coming after the show airs its final season but Ser Pounce’s death scene won’t be included on it. In fact, Weiss and Benioff went on to explain that filming with Ser Pounce was quite difficult because like most cats he didn’t exactly do what the humans wanted him to do. This, rather than Cersei’s unknown grudge, is probably why Ser Pounce only appeared once in the series.

Of course it wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibilities for Cersei Lannister to kill her son’s cat. The television series has softened Cersei’s character from her depiction in the books. In the source material Cersei is far more vicious, vindictive and violent. The series though has showed a more human side to Cersei Lannister and given her layers. As the series reaches its climax though Cersei has become more unsympathetic and ruthless as she’s lost nearly everyone she cares about in her life. Besides the undead Night King, Cersei is arguably the real and only villain left on Game of Thrones.

It’s not hard to believe that a woman who imprisoned a mother and her poisoned daughter together so the mother can slowly watch her daughter die would kill a cat because she hated its name. Even if Benioff and Weiss are entirely joking about Ser Pounce’s fate it still reveals their position on Cersei’s villainous status. If Cersei will kill an innocent cat, no one is probably safe from her wrath during Game of Thrones’ final season.